New Navy ship named after Medway

20 October 2017

A new Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) has been named
HMS Medway.

The naming continues an association between the Royal Navy and
the River Medway which, as home to the Chatham Historic Dockyard,
has existed since Elizabethan times. The second of the Royal Navy's
OPVs, HMS Medway is the tenth vessel to bear the name since the
1690s.

She was named by her Sponsor, Lady Wendy Fallon, in a ceremony
at the BAE Systems Scotstoun shipyard in Glasgow. Lady Fallon’s
husband is Defence Secretary, Sir Michael Fallon, whose Sevenoaks
constituency borders the River Medway.

Lady Fallon broke a bottle of gin on the bow in honour of the
Chatham dockyard, where the gin was distilled - Copper Rivet
Distillery.

Defence Secretary: 'Proud day for all involved'

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said: “This year we
have already named our second aircraft carrier, two Type 26
frigates and the first in the Offshore Patrol Vessel class. It is a
privilege to see yet another ship named for the growing Royal Navy.
Named after Kent’s main river, my family has taken a particular
interest in HMS Medway over the course of its construction and this
is a proud day for all involved.

“From counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling to securing the UK’s
borders, HMS Medway will help keep Britain safe.”

The 90-metre ship is expected to enter service with the
Royal Navy in 2019 and will go on to deploy across
the globe on counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling operations.

All five of the new Batch 2 River class OPVs are expected to be
in service before the end of 2020, with the first of class, HMS
Forth, currently on sea trials.

The OPV programme is sustaining around 800 jobs in Scotland at
BAE Systems and is maintaining the vital skills needed to build the
new cutting-edge, anti-submarine warfare frigates, the Type 26s,
for a Royal Navy growing for the first time since the Second World
War.

The ship has a crew of 58 and is equipped with a 30mm cannon and
flight deck capable of accommodating a Merlin helicopter, allowing
it to undertake vital counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling
operations. Displacing around 2,000 tonnes, she has a maximum speed
of around 24 knots and can sail 5,500 nautical miles without having
to resupply.

Leader of Medway Council: It's an honour the vessel has been
named after Medway

HMS Medway is officially affiliated with Medway, through an
association with Medway Council.

Leader of Medway Council, Councillor Allan Jarrett said: “It is
an honour that the vessel has been named after Medway, an area
which has a rich naval heritage. Earlier this year we commemorated
a significant event in naval history which took place 350 years ago
on the River Medway. The Dutch Raid resulted in financial
investment in the English naval fleet, leading to the Royal Navy
becoming the most powerful in the world.

“Today we celebrate a new vessel being added to the fleet to
help protect UK waters and we would be pleased to invite HMS Medway
to visit us on the River Medway soon.”

Chief of Materiel for DE&S: 'Proud moment for the Royal
Navy'

Sir Simon Bollom, Chief of Materiel (Ships) for Defence
Equipment and Support, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) procurement
organisation for the Ministry of Defence, said: “The naming of HMS
Medway is a proud moment for the Royal Navy, supported by DE&S,
and our Industry partners and is a significant milestone in the
delivery of this world-class fleet of five new
warships.

“I look forward not only to the deliveries of the final three
OPVs, but continued good progress on the Type 26 programme which
the OPV programme has enabled through the sustainment of jobs and
skills.”

Delivery of the OPV programme is one of the key commitments laid
out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015.